Chair



Mar. 27, 1923. 1,449,473.

' M. A. WESTBROOK.

CHAIR.

FILED AUG-2,1921. s SHEETSSHEET 2.

M. A. WESTBROOK. cum.

SSSSSSSSSSSSS 3.

Patented Mar. 27, 1923.

ire

' 1,449,473 TENT Fries.

MOSES A. WESTBROOK, OF WINNSBOBO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO GEORGE C. HOPKINS AND ONE-THIRD TO MORRIS J. WES'IBROOK, BOTH OF WINNSBORO,

TEXAS.

CHAIR.

Application filed. August 2, 1921. Serial No. 489,298.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Mosns A. lVnsrnnooK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vvinnsboro, in the county of Wood and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of articles of furniture and more particularly to an improved chair construction, the principles of the invention being applicable to chairs of all types including for example sitting chairs, dining chairs, ofiice chairs, rockers, etc.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a chair of suchconstruction that the various component parts thereof may be packed in a compact knockdown form for shipment and conveniently assembled and secured together without resorting to expensive mortise and tenon or similar joints or glue.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chair construction comprising a number of component units the constituent parts f which may be completely finished individually by sandpapering, staining, filling, and varnishing, and in a complete form ready for the trade, and which parts may be readily assembled to complete the respective units.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chair construction of such a nature that the side units and back may be assembled with seats of various types and designs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chair construction which will be substantial and durable and yet attractive and artistic in appearance.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a chair construction which will be particularly comfortable.

. In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a straight back chair constructed in accord ance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in a downward direction;

Figure 3 is a side elevation illustrating a slightly different form of the invention;

Figure 1 is asimilar view illustrating a rocker constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 3 illustrating a further modification of the invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustratmg a lecture room chair constructed in accordance with the invention.

In all forms of the invention the chair comprises practically five units, namely a seat frame, two side units, a back unit, and bracing units, these parts being so constructed that they may be readily and quickly assembled and united by ordinary screws or bolts to complete the structure.

The seat frame is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and is ofthe construction best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the same being of box-like form and comprising a front 2, sides 3, and a back 4. The said seat frame may be of any desired contour in accordance with the type of seat to be employed in connection with and supported by the same, and preferably the ends of the sides 3 of the frame overlap the ends of the back 4 and are secured thereto by screw or other fastening elements 5, and preferably the forward ends of the sides 3 are set into rabbets 6 formed in the rear side of the front 2 of the frame and secured by screws or other fastening elements 7 Fora purpose to be presently explained, a cross piece 8 is secured in any suitable manner to the rear side of the back 4 of the seat frame and is provided in its upper edge with a longitudinally extending series of sockets 9. This seat is indicated by the numeral 10 and is suitably arranged upon and supported by the seat frame 1 and secured thereto in any desired manner, and it will be understood that the said seat 10 may be ofany construction and any shape most desired. v

The side units are indicated in general by the numeral 11 and each of said units coniprises a front leg12, a rear leg 13, and brace 14. Each side unit is thus constituted in all forms of the invention, but in the form shown in Figure 4, eachunit is supplemented by an arm rest 15 and a rocker 16, and in the form of the invention shown in Figure 6, one of the units is supplemented by an arm rest 17 to be presently described.

Returning now to a consideration of the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be observed that the outer end of each front leg 12 is CIK secured by means of screws or other fastening elements 18 to the forward end of a respective one of the sides 3 of the seat frame and that the rear legs 13 are similarly secured by screws or other fastening elements 19 to the outer faces of the rear ends of the sides 3 of the seat frame and the ends of; the cross piece 8. The front legs 12 terminate at their upper ends not higher than the plane of the seat 10 but the rear legs extend as at 20 above the said seat to nearly the height of the back of the chair. The braces 14 are secured at their lower ends by screws or other fastening elements 21 to the rear edges of the respective front legs 12 and ex tend upwardly at an angle of rearward inclination across the respective sides of the seat frame and in engagement with the forward edges of the upper portions of the respective rear legs 13, being secured to the seat frame by screws or other fastening elements 22 and to the upper ends of the rear legs 13 by similar element 23. Thus the front and rear legs of the chair are firmly relatively braced and also the connection of these legs with the seat frame of the chair is rendered more secure notwithstanding the fact that mortise and tenon joints are not resorted to in making these connections.

The back unit of the chair is indicated in general by the numeral 2 1 and the same comprises an upper cross piece 25 and slats 26 which are secured at their upper ends in the lower edge of the cross piece 25 and at their lower ends are fitted into the sockets 9 in the cross piece 8. The upper ends of the braces 14 are directed rearwardly as indicated by the numeral 27, and screws or other fastening elements 28 are driven through the said ends 27 of the braces and into the ends of the cross piece 25.

Finally the chair comprises bracing units, one indicated by the numeral 29 and the other by the numeral 30, the unit 29 cornprising a cross piece which extends between the rear legs 13 below the seat frame 1 and the unit 30, comprising a similar cross piece which may be suitably ornamented if desired and which extends between the front legs 12 beneath the seat frame.

At this point it will be evident that a chair constructed in accordance with the present invention may have its component units packed in a compact form for shipment, andthe units may be readily assembled and secured together by means of ordinary screws or bolts. It will be evident that each component part of each unit may be individually machined and finished before association with the related parts, it being more convenient to do this than to finish a chair when it has been completely constructed.

' It will also be understood at this point that a chair constructed in accordance with the invention will be substantial and durable and will yet present a pleasing appearance and be comfortable.

In that form of the invention shown in Figure 3 the structure is identical with the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 except for a slight change in the general shape of the seat. Likewise the structure shown in Figure 4 is the same as in the preceding forms with the addition of the arm rests 15 and rockers 16 so as to produce a chair of the rocker type, the front legs 12 in this form of the invention being necessarily extended upwardly above the seat frame so as to support the forward ends of the arm rests 15.

In general the structure shown in Figure is the same as that shown in Figures 1 and 2 except that in this form of chair the brace, which is indicated in general by the numeral 31, is of a more or less sigmoidal shape and preferably formed in two pieces, namely the upper piece 32 and the lower piece 33. Each upper piece32 comprises a nearly perpendicular part 3-1 which at its lower end is curved forwardly as at 35 and secured by means of screws or other fastening elements 36 to the outer face of the respective side 3 of the seat frame 1. The lower part 33 is secured at its lower end, as at 37 by means of screws or other suitable fastening elements, to the rear edge of the respective front leg 12 and is curved upwardly and rearwardly from its point of attachment un il it substantially meets and abuts the lower end of the portion 35 of the upper member of the brace, being secured by screws or other fastening elements 38 to the respective side 3 of the seat frame. Except in the respects noted, the structure is the same as previously described.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 6, which form closely resembles that shown in Figures 1 and 2, the structure is designed more especially for lecture room use, and it is for this reason that the arm rest or table 17 is provided. This arm rest or table is supported at its forward or broader portion upon the upper end of one of the front legs 12 of the chair, this leg being extended a suitable distance above the seat, and brackets 39 are secured to the opposite sides of the said extended upper end of the leg 12, and support the under side of the rest 17. The rearor narrow portion of the rest 17 which is indicated by the numeral 40, intersects the adjacent side brace 14: and is secured thereto by means of a bolt or screw 41, and at its rear end is secured by a similar fastening element 42 to the adjacent rear leg 13.

Preferably thin panels or slats 43 are secured to each assemblage of parts comprising the members 11, 12 and 14 as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings so as to relatively brace these parts of each assemblage when the structure is knocked down for shipment.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A knock-down chair comprising a seat frame, front and rear legs to be secured to the sides of the seat frame with the upper ends of the rear legs above the seat frame, a backto be disposed in rear of the rear legs with its lower end constructed to be engaged with the rear end of the seat frame, and braces to be secured at their upper ends to the back and between their ends to the sides of the seat frame, said braces being secured below their upper ends to the upper ends of the rear legs and having their lower ends secured to the front legs above the lower ends thereof. 7

2. A knock-down chair comprising a seat frame, a cross bar secured to the rear side of the said frame and having sockets in its upper side, a back including slats having their lower ends, engaged in said sockets, and side frames each consisting of front and rear legs and a brace, the legs being secured to the sides of the seat frame with the upper ends of the rear legs projecting above the seat frame and the brace being secured between the legs to the sides of the seat frame, the lower end of the brace being secured to the front leg above the lower end thereof and the upper end of the brace being secured to the upper end of the back and the upper end of the rear leg being secured to the brace below the upper end of the latter.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

MosEs A, WESTBROOK. a s.] 

